Washing machine



Dec. 30, 1941. WDUNHAM 2,268,204

WASHING MACHINE Filed March a, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifiventor" 1 George W Dunham b3 Z/Wc. 1 His Attorney.

Dec. 30, 1941, c; w DUNHAM 2,268,204

WASHING MACHINE Filed March a, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 4 Georgew Dunham,

His Attorney.

Patented 3O, 1 941 I f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE George W. Dunham, Westport. Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of V New York Application March 8, 1941, Serial No. 382,405

8 Claims. (01. 68--23) The present invention relates to washing maon the under side of the supporting ring and chines of the typein which clothes are washed seats-24 fixed to the upper ends of the caster and centrifugally dried in a rotatable tub or brackets to. The coil springs 22 are equally p e bas etspaced around the ring so as to provide a stable The object of my inventionis to provide an support. Fixed to the upper side of the gear 1 improved construction in machines of this type casing II is a cylindrical housing 26 projecting by .means of which the vibration during centhrough an opening 26a in the bottom wallof trifugal drying is decreased. For a consideration the outer casing. Within the housing 26 are rubof what I believe novel and my invention, atteri: ber rings 21 arranged on opposite sides of a tion is directed to the following description and i flange 28 projecting from the sleeve l0. Tilting the claims appended thereto. of the sleeve III in any direction about its lower In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a end causes a compression of the rubber rings 21 sectional elevation of a washing machine emresulting in a force tending to return the sleeve bodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view to an upright position. The rubber rings 21 acof the frame carrying the driving mechanism; I: cordingly resiliently support the spinner basket and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the during centrifugal drying for gyratory movement Spring pp r s for the framewhich decreases the vibration due to unbalanced Referring to the drawings, there is shown a distribution of the clothes. As shown in Fig. 2, washing machine having an outer casing or tank there is a clearance at 21a between the sleeve I having a depending skirt 2 at its lower end 2( l0 and the top 21b of the housing 26 permitting Within WhiCh is d a stiffening n 3 Ca ying the tilting or gyratory movement'of the sleeve brackets do for casters 4. In the upper part of x ID. The stiffness ofthe rubber rings 21 is prefthe outer casing is a rotatable tub or spinner erably such that the critical speed is substanbasket 5 for receiving clothes to be washed and tially below the normal extracting speed. By the Centrifugally driede S e Wa s Of e Sp above described construction the spinner basket ner basket flare upward and outward toward the is supported by the rubber rings 21 for gyratory top and terminate in an inwardly extending movement relative to the supporting ring 12 and guard ring 55 which holds the clothes in the spinto the outer casing, and the spinner basket is ner basket during centrifugal drying. At the also resiliently supported on the floor by means region of greatest diameter the side walls are of the coil springs 22 arranged between the supprovided with centrifugal discharge openings 1 porting ring i2 and the casters 4. The rubber which also serve as overflow openings defining rings 21 are primarily effective in reducing vithe liquid level in the spinner basket during 'bration due to unbalanced distribution of the washing. Within the spinner basket is an oscilclothes, while the coil springs 22 are primarily latmy bladed agitator 8; The agitator is oscileffective in preventing transmission of vibration v lated for washing and the spinner basket is roto the floor. The coil springs 22-, however, have tated for centrifugal drying through a suitable the additional function of decreasing the gymmechanism associated with a vertical shaft 9 tion of the sp basket 6 the'critical pe extending up from the'bottom of the outer casand accordingly P m t r n of. h p ning through a sleeve I 0; Such mechanism is ner basket up throughthe critical speed to its known and may, for example, be that di cl d normal extracting speed with larger amounts of in my Patent 2,161,618. The driving mechanism unbalance. The stiffness of the springs 22 is for the vertical shaft 9 is located-within a gear such that the natural frequency of h p or casing ll carried on a rigid supporting ring or ihg ring I! d the Parts Carried thereby 0n e frame l2 arranged within theskirt 2 of the outer Sprin s does not coincide With n Other r s, casing. One end of the gear casing is bolt d to is not resonant with any of the frequencies of the supporting ring. The other end of the gear vibration present during the operation of the case is bolted to a bracket l3 having arms ll 'machinebolted to the supporting ring l2. The mecha- The operation of the machine in the region of nism is driven through a belt I5 and pulleys I6 the critical speed s proved by friction dampand H by means of an electric motor l8 supers arranged between the supporting ring [2 and ported in rubber rings I'9 fixed to arms 20 of a e sti ening ring 3. Three friction dampers are base 2| bolted to the supporting ring l2. The shown uniformly spaced about the ciroumfei supporting ring I2 is resiliently supported by ence of the supporting'ring, although a greater three coil springs 22 arranged between seats 23 number might be used. Each of the friction gentially to or circumferentially of the support ing ring. The lower ends of the strips 29 are received between friction disks or washers 3| on studs 32 projecting from bosses 33 on the stiflfening ring 3. The friction disks 3| are pressed together and against the strips 29 by means 01 springs 34 on the outer endsof the studs 32. Vertical movement of the strips 29 relative to the friction disks 3| is permitted by an elongated slot 29a in the strips 29. Vertical movement of the supporting ring l2 on the springs 22 is accordingly frictionally resisted or damped by vertical movement of the strips 29 between the friction Horizontal movement of the supporting ring I2 on .the springs 22 is frictionally damped by pivotal movement of the strips 29 on the studs 32. Because there are three friction j dampers arranged in I circumferential planes around the supporting ring I2, horizontal move- -ment of the supporting ring can be resolved into components in'the planes of the strips 29, each component of which would tend-to cause pivoting of the strips, The same result would'obviously 'be obtained if more than three friction dampers were used. The friction dampers are ation of the machine with larger amounts of unbalance.

The power required to bring the spinner basket up tothe normal extracting speed is also decreased if the basket is started from a central position. I In the present construction this is ef- '38. on cylindrical post 39 secured to the bottom of the outer casing. If the spinner basket should be slightly tilted from the central position while it is being filled, it will be brought to a central position by the engagement of the conical member with' its seat. From a broad aspect, the conical member 35 and the seat 38 are cooperating surfaces for resisting tilting of the basket.

with the seat 38 at the start of the extracting operation and will so remain until suflicient of the washing liquid in the receptacle has been discharged to lighten the load on the supporting springs 22, after whichthe conical member 35 is raised clear of its seat. The springs 22 are preferably of such stiffness that the conical member 35 is not moved clear of its seat 38'until the spinner basket is through its critical speed. When the part 35 is clear of its seat 38, the spinner basket is then free to gyrate about its center of mass under the restraining influence of the rubber ring 21. With the above described construcdrying. Since the part 35 is made of resilient material, it acts to cushion the vibration at the start of the centrifugal extracting until it is moved clear of its seat 38. From this aspect the part 35 and its associated seat 38 can be considered as an arrangement for increasing 'the rigidity of the su; port for the spinner basket until the spinner basket is rotated above its critical speed.

During extracting, the liquid in the spinner basket is discharged through the openings 1 and falls into the bottom of the outer casing where it is stored below the bottom of the spinner basket. A rubber sleeve 49 secured by a clamp 4| to the sleeve I0 and by-a clamp 42 to the cylindrical post 39 prevents leakage through the upper end of the post 39. Leakage at the lower end of the post 39 is prevented by gaskets 43 arranged between a clamping ring 44 and the un-, der side of the outer easing and between a flange 45 on the post 39 and the hpper side of the easing.

The spinner basket is filled through a nozzle 46 I connected to a supply conduit 41. The machine is emptied by a pump 48 having its intake connected by a .fiexible hose 49 to a well 50 in the bottomdischarge into the spinner basket through an.

opening .53 in a cover 54 for the outer casing. The pump is preferably operated during washing 'so that any liquid overflowing through the discharge openings l is returned. to the spinner basket. This maintains the liquid level in the In the use of the machine the spinner basket 5 is filled through the nozzle 46 with the pump 48 operating and the-gooseneck 52 positioned to discharge into the spinner basket until sufllcient liquid overflows through the openings 1 to cause a steady flow through the gooseneck. This as sures the proper liquid level in the spinner basket for washing. The clothes are then added and the agitator 8 is oscillated by the vertical shaft 9. At the conclusion of the washing operation the pump 48 is stopped and the spinner basket is rotated by the shaft 9. At the start of the extracting operation the spinner basket is held in a central positionby the engagement of the conical member 35 with its seat 38. As the speed The conical member; 35 will be in engagement I of rotation of the spinner basket increases, the liquid contents 'are centrifugally discharged through the openings 1, decreasing'the weight of the basket and accordingly decreasing the deflection of the springs 22 so that the part 35 is raised clear of its seat 38. Preferably this condition obtains when the speed of rotation of the spinner basket is above its critical speed. Thereafter the vibration is cushioned by the rubber rings 21 and the springs 22, and large amplitude vibrations are damped by the friction dampers 29.

During the extracting operation the liquid centrifugally discharged from the spinner basket falls into the bottom of the outer casing, whence it may be returned to the spinner basket to wash a succeeding batch of clothes. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

tion the spinner basket will be automatically held 1. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, a frame, means supporting the basket on the frame for tilting movement relative to the frame, means resiliently supporting the frame on a floor or the like, and means responsive to movement of the frame due to deflection of its supporting means under the weight of the washing liquid in the basket for resisting tilting of the basket relative to the frame until the basket is at least partially emptied.

2. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, means yieldably supporting the basket for gyratory movement about a vertical axis, and means responsive to the presence of washing liquid in the basket for resisting movement of the basket from said axis until the basket is at least partially emptied.

3. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and .centrifugally dried, means yieldably supporting the basket for gyratory movement about a central position, and stabilizing means actuated by the introduction of washing liquid into the basket for holdingthe basketin said central position until the basket is at least partially emptied.

4. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, vertical shaft means connected to the basket, a sleeve supporting the shaft, means resiliently supporting the basket on a floor or the like, and stabilizing means for holding the basket in an upright position during washing comprising cooperating surfaces, one of which is carried by said sleeve and is brought into engagement with the other surface by deflection of one of which is carriedby the casing and the other of which is moved into engagement with the firstby'vertical movement of the basket on its supporting means under the weight of the washing liquid.

6. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket forreceiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, a casing surrounding the basket, an opening in the bottomwall of the casing, a ring below the casing supporting driving mechanism and a vertical shaft means extending therefrom through said opening to the basket, spring means resiliently supporting the ring on a floor or the like, and stabilizing means for holding the .basket in a central position comprising a seat on said casing and a conical rubber member surrounding said shaft means and movable into engagement with said seat by deflection of said spring means under the weight of the washing liquid in the spinner basket.

7. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, means resiliently supporting the spinner basket for gyratory movement, said means being constructed and arranged so that the critical speed is below the normal operating speed, and means responsive to the weight bf the liquid in the spinner basket for increasing the resistance to gyratory movement of the spinner basket at speeds below the critical speed.

8. In a single tub washer and drier, a spinner basket for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried, means resiliently supporting the spinner basket for gyratory movement, said means being constructed and arranged so that the critical speed is below the normal operating speed, additional means for resiliently resisting gyratory movement of the spinner basket comprising engageable' elements, and means responsive to the weight of the liquid in the spinner basket for effecting engagement of said elements at speeds below the critical speed. i

GEORGE W. DUNHAM. 

